Boeing B-314

My father, Wellwood E Beall, mentioned in the opening above, designed the 314 by himself when Boeing declined to compete for the design. He submitted his design to Boeing with interior renderings by my mother, an accomplished artist in Seattle, and Boeing decided to submit it to Pan Am. They accepted it, and I have the original acceptance telegram from Pan Am. My father was a young (27 yr old) salesman and engineer assigned to Shanghai, China to sell the Boeing “P Shooter” fighters. He designed the B 314 long distance. He ultimately became Executive VP and director under Bill… Read more »

My father, Scott Flower, flew the clippers out of Dinner Key for Pan Am back in the 30’s

Maynard Foster was looking for the name of the following B-314 for the Honolulu Clipper (NC18601) but I can’t reply to that post. It was the NC18602 (not sure what it was named at the time) as I have in my possession the handwritten notes of F/O Wally Reed that he transcribed following their landing at sea. Twice they referred to it as The ’02. I also have a copy of passenger USN Comdr. Clarence Mills Caldwells after-action report and he refers to it as the NC18602 but states that it was second-hand information.

Maynard Foster was looking for the name of the following B-314 for the Honolulu Clipper (NC18601) but I can’t reply to that post. It was the NC18602 (not sure what it was named at the time) as I have in my possession the handwritten notes of F/O Wally Reed that he transcribed following their landing at sea. Twice they referred to it as The ’02.

My dad, SJ Millward (Jim) was a Meteorologist for Pan Am. He was based in Manila in September 1941…. just a few months before Japan took the Philippines. He was interned in Santo Tomas with several other Pan Am employees (and many several hundred/thousand others)., and then later at Los Banos. At Santo Tomas, he lived with AP Bureau Chief Ray Cronin and his wife Alice, working for Ray as a camp sensor. before being interned, he flew on a couple of survey trips; one to Borneo with Captain Fred Ralph, who lost his Clipper in Hong Kong the day… Read more »

Gerald, my grandfather is Ralph Leggett. He was a mechanic and later became co-pilot to Juan Tripp.

My father worked for Pan Am for 41 years starting in Port Washington. I have his old negatives; check them out at http://theoregonchristensens.com/oldplanes/

Hi,

I’m trying to track down the passenger list for the first clipper flight to Foynes from New York after the end of WW2 in Europe – my mother’s passport is stamped the 9th of May. She was 5 years old at the time and traveling with her sister (a few years older). Do you know if the passenger manifests for these are available in the US? We’ve tried the museum at Foynes and checked the Irish Army archives in Dublin to no avail. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Tom

My family moved to Port Washington, on Long Island, sometime before I entered first grade. My Dad was thrilled that we’d be within a stone’s throw from the New York City he had come to love during his college weekends at Cornell. There were stories of weekend expeditions to the big city with his fraternity brother Elkins Hale. Hale enlisted in the Army Air Corps right after college and by the late ‘30’s he was flying for Pan-American Airways. Pending completion of the Marine Terminal at LaGuardia, Pan Am based the 314s that pioneered the hop-scotch across the Atlantic, –… Read more »

I am trying to research one of my relations, a Captain who flew Clippers for Pan Am, and heard a few tantalizing snippets from my grandmother, who has since passed on. His name was Frederick C Richards, and I was given a photo that was purported to be him looking out the window on the captain’s side of a Clipper(wasn’t told if it was a Boeing, Martin, or Sikorski). I would like to know more, as others in my family are a tad close mouthed about him, and would also like to know when and where he passed on, as… Read more »

I have .pdf copies of pilot’s logbooks for Robert W. Jenkins (my late father-in-law) and Marshal Schroder (his roommate, killed in China during the war) that include flight logs for several of the B314’s dated December 1942 to July 1943. At the time, they were flying for Pan Am, and later recruited to fly DC-3’s (C-47) for CNAC during the war. They include flights in MC18602, MC18604, MC18605, MC18606, MC18609, MC18611, and MC18612. My recollection of conversations with Bob was that they were ferrying troops to Africa, and when the war precluded the flights into Africa were recruited to fly… Read more »

[…] learn more about Pan Am’s historic flight, check out the Century of Flight article. This page also has some great photos of the interior of the B314, and more about the […]

Just found this site and this post. My father was John deKramer, the navigator. I often asked him about photos from his flying days, as he was an avid photographer. He indicated he took few (I have only one, and maybe in a DC3) as it was forbidden due to the war. Dad also was active in the navigators reunions, and I met one of the folks he worked with, a Mr. Farmer, in Napa years ago. One time when the navigators visited San Francisco I joined them when they went to Beach Blanket Babylon. I have always regretted not… Read more »

I am seeking information on my deceased step-mother’s cousin, Scott Flower, who was a longtime pilot for Pan Am. Would any readers here have information?
Thanks,
MM

Mr. Robinson,

I’ve been researching Amelia Earhart’s last flight and there is not a lot of information available about trans-Pacific aerial navigation documents of the period. Your training manual sounds like it may have material either similar to, used by or perhaps written by Fred Noonan, who was Earhart’s navigator and disappeared with her. In any case, it sounds like a beautiful document and I’d love to get a look at it.

If you could scan or otherwise share a copy of the manual it would be greatly appreciated. Who knows, you may even help solve a mystery.

Thanks,
Walter

Does anybody out here remember Lt Commander Patrick J Byrne aka Pappy ? He had a long history & a great love of the flying boats during his USN career. I have several pictures of the original Mars flying boats. I believe he also did quite a bit of transatlantic route plotting w PanAm.

What did you have in mind?

Mr. Robinson,

I’m very interested in the Navigation practice book you mentioned. Is there some way you would be willing to share it?

Thanks,
Walter

From all my research, the only possible Clippers would be the “Pacific Clipper” (NC18609) or “California Clipper” (NC18602). BOTH of these Clippers have used the name “Pacific Clipper” based on the dates used. Since NC18602 was leased by the Navy in 1942 until after the war and since the Pacific war lasted until late Sept. 1945 (and thus not giving the Navy much time from Oct. to Nov.) and then being sold to World Airways – I would venture it was probably NC18609 unless your father was a pilot for the Navy or World Airways. Which would be my next… Read more »

Thank you for the reply. The Honolulu Clipper was piloted by Capt. S. E. Robbins. I am looking for the name of the clipper that was about 150 miles behind the Honolulu Clipper & was piloted by Capt. Fred C. Richards. My father was on the “following” clipper. My father is deceased, I am trying to put together a time line. Thank you.

I see here that the service ceiling was 13,400 feet. But wasn’t the cruising altitude something like 1,500 – 1,800 feet?

Hi,
I am looking at how to use two of these photos in an online news article. Do you have the rights to publish them and can you grant them to me?

Fantastic photos!
Heidi

I too, just finished Ken Folletts book and I had never heard of these planes before – I had heard the name “Yankee Clipper” but didn’t know what it was before. and I was 3 years in the Navy.
Just fascinating, what an idea.
Great pictures on this website.

What a plane!!

I’ve always said that WHEN I win the lotto, I would figure out how to acquire one, refurbish it and fly the world!!!

Part One of my plan is still in the works 😉

If none are available, I will build one from scratch. Take off from Colorado and simply drop anchor in Maui. Man, How fun would that be?!?!? ay???

It was the Honolulu Clipper (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honolulu_Clipper) Honolulu Clipper departed Hawaii on 3 November 1945 with an Operation Magic Carpet flight carrying 26 military personnel returning to the United States after service in the Pacific. The aircraft lost power in both starboard engines after five hours of flying, and successfully landed 650 miles east of Oahu shortly before midnight. The merchant tanker Englewood Hills maintained radio contact, found the aircraft and removed the passengers on the morning of 4 November. The escort carrier Manila Bay arrived and sent over aircraft mechanics who were unable to repair the engines at sea. Manila… Read more »

Great to hear from you!! No, I did not visit you in Alaska but your Dad did invite me to fly up to his “Moose Farm”. He and I had a great relationship and I regard him and his memory as wonderful times of fellowship in the Lord. I do remember your Mom and her gracious hospitality in the years I met with your Dad. I am living in Dallas, TX helping my sister who is in a wheelchair. Her son, who works for BP in Russia, asked us to move into his house next door to Virginia, my sister.… Read more »

Karl, I do remember you. I think my brother Jim and I did some work for you on the C-133s that were stored at Mojave. My wife Karen and I had my dad live with us for a few years in the 90s and then he moved to Holyoke Colorado with my brother. Dad passed away in 98. We have 5 boys, 2 we adopted as adults from Haiti to help them with their education. One named Al finish his degree in civil engineering and is working at PG&E as I am. The other will be going into the Army… Read more »

Hi Cory, I do not know if you would remember me. Your dad and I had a big part in the purchase of New Cuyama back in the early 70s. I was the administrator of F.A.R. ( Foundation for Airborne Relief in Long Beach and Al told us about the town and it being offered for sale.
Is your dad still alive?

Karl

A Boeing B-314 clipper left Hawaii 11-3-1945 bound for California. It was piloted by Captain Frederick C. Richards. Does anybody know the given name of the clipper?

As a First Officer I flew with Captain Warfield Hester occasionally out of Miami from 1947 until 1954, DC-4 equipment to San Juan, PR, New York, via Bermuda, and return to San Juan Warfield was a great guy, soft-spoken and most pleasant, contributing to the camaraderie at crew layover points. He owned a citrus farm in the Miami area. His life took a tragic turn at the accidental loss of their son while Miami-based. The tragedy affected him and his wife, Ginny, greatly. My last contact with them was during an excursion to Sedona, AZ as part of the tour… Read more »

I am looking for a large scale model of the B-314

Does anybody know of the whereabouts of an American Author, Tom Williams, who wrote about the 314. I think he resides in Florida.

Does anyone recall the name of waffle hester who flew on the south American route out of Miami?

Hi Cory, While I do not recognize the name Al Pfau, it is possible that your father and I were flying as crew members with Pan Am at about the same time. We did not fly with the same crew members for each flight. The Pan Am crew scheduling office assigned crew members on a rotating basis and you were usually with a different group of flight crews for each flight. Unfortunately I did not keep any personal records of all the crews I flew with during those years in the Pacific (1943-1945). I recalled Lewis Goode because of his… Read more »

Hi Ed, My father flew from SF to Hawaii on the clippers. His name was Al Pfau. Just wondered if you knew him in those days.

Flew with Pan Am for a short period from 1988 to the very last day in 1991. Great stories and great experiences with many pilots that saw a big part of Pan Am’s heyday. Pan Am pilot name Herb Cox taught me how to fly in the 60’s when he was New York based.

I’ve just read the book as well & that is what bought me here!
Wasn’t aware of this trans-atlantic service before reading the book.

Hi Julia and all,
I have a Nav. practice book that I think Pan Am did.. It has all of the preflight and prep for a simulated trip, KSFO to PHNL. The amout of work the Nav’s had to do was amazing but the watercolor sketches in it are outstanding.. all Pan Am flying boats.

Al

Hi

Do you know anything about the clipper crash in Faial harbor, I believe in the 1950s (which I saw when I was a child).

Thanks

Conceicao

Is ther anyone that have any info about the Martin M-130 or Boeing B-314 regaring purchase or auctions or maby a “graveyard”

(u and contact me on s40driver@gmail.com if u prefer)

I’m just reading that particular book now, which is why i’m online looking for photos of this fabulous sounding aeroplane/boat! I wish there was still such a thing in existence to ride on nowadays!

I can have a photocopy made of both sides of this photo and send them to you. After a little detective work, I think I have determined that almost all the navigators signed this. Possibly some other crew members did as well. And, yes, my Dad did attend navigators conventions and get togethers over the years. His very good friend up until the last few years when he passed away was John deKramer also a navigator. Send my your address and I will post this to you.

Oh my gosh! Yep, that’s my dad’s signature. Do you know much about the photo, i.e., when it was taken and which Clipper it was? Also, is there any chance I could get a hold of a reproduction of the photo? Did your dad attend the Pan Am navigator conventions? I’m trying to get more information about my dad’s service on the Clipper and regret no end that I didn’t ask him many many more questions about it. Thanks! Sorry for all of the questions – I’m just excited to make this connection.

Hi- I’m sure he must have known your father. I have a large b/w photo of the Clipper lifting off in SF that is signed by a number of navigators. There is a signature for Donald M. Wilson among the others. This may be your dad. Sorry about your loss, they were remarkable men, all of them.

I wonder if your dad knew my dad, who was also a navigator on the China Clipper. His name was Don Wilson and he passed away in 2008.

My father, George Hampe (97yrs.) has 2 PAA Flying Clipper certificates (Equator Crossing & Inter. Date Line) dated Nov23-24, 1946 from Auckland, NZ to San Francisco looks like it is signed by “F.P. Glen” (hard to read). I’m trying to research the specific aircraft. My dad said it was the maiden voyage, I tend to think it was the final flight. He was stationed on Hawaii and may have flown out of Oahu. He also said there were only 5 passengers on board and the plane had stop-overs at 5 islands. He also remembers having 5 bottles of Johnnie Walker… Read more »

Hi Stephen, I knew your dad, Lewis H. Goode. He and I were flying for Pan Am as flight radio officers at about the same time. Based in San Francisco, we flew under the wartime (WWII) contract with the Naval Air Transport Service (NATS). In addition to flying Pan Am’s Martin and Boeing Clippers we also flew the Navy Consolidated PB2Y3 and the Martin PBM flying boats on routes to the South Pacific Islands. I remember that Lewis was the flight radio officer on a Navy PB2Y3 that was making a night takeoff from the island of Funafuti. I do… Read more »

Does anyone know of the demise of the Pacific Clipper, B-314A – NC-18609, November of 1946? I know it was damaged and then salvaged for parts — but where and how?
Best Always, Douglas

In January 1942 the UKs Prime Minister Winston Churchill after a secret meeting with PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbour.. decided to fly home from Bermuda in a Boeing Clipper Flying Boat Berwick..A Luftwaffe squadron was scrambled as the flying boat passes over Brest in France..but fortunately for some reason they could not find it and Winston made it safely back to the UK…

I know about this, they used the Horta harbour, Faial Island, Azores.
In those days, if the outside waters were in bad weather, the plane couldn’t takeoff. In one occasion there were three clippers stranded there for some days.
Landing was easier, as it used the part of the inside harbor waters.

They had there two support boats that were different from all the other used by Pan Am in their bases. One was a tug and the other a passenger boat. I’m researching about this subject, so any information about it is welcome.

My dad, Lewis H. Goode, worked for Pan American Airways as a radio man aboard a Clipper Ship which made runs between San Francisco, CA to Hawaii. I have always been proud of his pioneer spirit. Dad was later inducted in the U. S. Navy during WW II and served aboard various “Liberty Ships” transporting ammo, bombs and other war materials to the South Pacific.

Hi,
Just read the book by Ken Follett “night over water”, which tells the story of people flying from London to New York in this Pan Am Clipper. Gives you a good insight in how these flights went and how people lived aboard this plane for 36 hours.

Where can I find the complete details of the Yankee Clipper crash in Portugal.

I understand in 1941 the Clippers flew from the Targus River in Portugal to the Azores where they had to land in the open sea, which was difficult due to the weather, and then onto Bermuda. Anyone kown about this?

My grandfather, who recently passed, was a Pan Am Captain and flew many different aircraft for Pan American, one of which was the B-314. His name was Elwin Roger Smart and he went by Roger. I can’t say which specific Clippers he flew, but we have more pictures of the Dixie than any other. He finished his career as a Captain of 747’s flying from New York to Scottland. If he was still alive I am sure he would have enjoyed sharing stories with a fellow pioneer of aviation.

Hi Kim-

I just looked through all the signatures and don’t find either Bill Grace or Steven Bancroft. If you like, I will send you the names of these men. I can read most of their signatures clearly.

Julia

Thanks for checking with your dad. And MY memory is getting a little questionable as well – the name of my admin’s father was Bill Grace, not “Bob”. She gave me a replica of the certificate he received – as did all crew and passengers – when they crossed the International Dateline and it is signed by a Captain Steven Bancroft, who was evidently the chief pilot on that trip, dated September 30, 1940.

Thanks for the link, I just ordered two books. I didn’t find the name you mentioned in this group. I suspect it is signed by the navigators for the most part. But don’t know, because they didn’t list their duty. My dad recognized a couple as navigators, but there weren’t that many of them. I have begun looking through the web at individual names, and find scant info as most of them are obituaries, sadly.

Julia

Sorry, I didn’t make that clear – the name of the father of my former administrative assistant was Bob Grace, who flew the same route as your dad in ’40 or ’41, just before the war.

Kim

I suspect your dad was referring to Capt. Robert Ford. Here is a link to a site that speaks of a story about him: http://www.longwayhome.com And the name of my former admin. asst. was Bob Grace.

Kim

I asked my dad your question today, and he could only remember one name, Ford, I don’t know if this is a first or last name. However, he told me where to find a photo that he remembered was signed. It is 11×14″ bw of one of the Clippers taken just as it lifts off from SF Bay. It is signed on the back by 62 crew members all of whom were crew on one of the Clippers. If you have a name, I can check it against this list.

Julia

There is a nice DVD that chronicles the Clipper and some of the footage includes the Pan Am facility on Midway. You can check it out via this link: http://www.flyingclippers.com/postflight/V0053.html

Hi Julia,

Does your father remember the names of any of the Clipper pilots he flew with on the Pacific route? I have a former executive assistant whose dad was a Clipper pilot on that route.

Kim

I love the Boeing Clippers flying boat , it makes me dream.
Is there any poepe who could send me all pictures inside , outside,
of this airplane….I would like to learn a bit more about it.
Why they have stp the construction???? Is there any chance
to see one day a new concept of this flying boat one day???

Static display of the Yankee clipper (without its incredible wings) is in Shannon Irelancd (Foynes) Pan American Museum. The museum is a must-visit if you’re a Pan Am fan (the reall Pan Am) Want to go back again and again. (My dad flew for Pan Am from 1940’s to the 70’s).

While doing family history research came across a photo of three relatives standing on land pictured with the NC18603 (number visible on tail) in the water in the background. Written on the photo is “Test flight 74 Passenger American Clipper Baltimore Feb. 24, 1939”.
Checking it out I find this plane was actually the Yankee Clipper. Was indeed it tested in Baltimore on the above date? Thanks.

I am volunteering for the Fish and Wildlife Service doing graphics for Midway Atoll NWR and will include images of the Boeing 314 along with the Martin 130 for their possible use based on this information. Thank you very much.

My father (a PanAm navigator on this aircraft), answers your question with the following: On one particular cargo flight from Honolulu to SF, they were unable to land due to dense fog. In these instances, they landed on the Sacramento River. The one he remembers most is landing on the river Xmas eve near a place called Rio Vista. They parked for a while waiting for the fog to lift, but it only got worse, keeping them overnight on the river. Still there in the morning, they taxied toward the bay and under the Continas Bridge the fog still so… Read more »

My father was a navigator on these and flew the Pacific routes. I asked him your question yesterday, and his response was, yes, they did stop at Midway.

My father, Thomas Laughlin, was the navigator on the Honolulu, California and Dixie Clippers for Pan Am. He flew out of San Francisco and flew the Pacific eventually carrying troops to the South Pacific. He is in declining health, and I would love to find someone who might have flown with him as he has such warm memories of his many flights.

Hello,
I hope you have had some response to your query.

Is there any chance you will publish your father’s memoir, or print some extra copies to sell?

I know there are others like me who would appreciate being able to read it, in any format.

Sincerely,
Richard Murdoch

Boeing’s 314 had a similar range to the Martin 130 so I assume that when it crossed the Pacific it also used Midway Atoll, however, I cannot seem to confirm this. Can anyone tell me?

What happened if the seas were too rough for landing at the Clipper’s destination?

My father was flown home from active duty in the Pacific in WWII on the Dixie Clipper. He has written about his experience in his memoir which I’m editing and publishing for our family. He describes all of the different interior spaces on the plane and tells about going out into the wing with an engineer to help replace an oil pump. The photos on this website concur with his descriptions, and I’d love to include some of them in this limited edition publication if it is possible. Does anyone know how I can get copies of the illustrations and… Read more »

Ken Follet wrote “Night over Water” in pre-WWII days. The setting is aboard a Boeing B-314, a Super-Clipper. It is good read. It b rings the old flying boat to life.

I was looking at Clipper on the Internet and found a reference to answer your question, although the date does not match. The link is: http://clipperflying.wpengine.com/pan-am-planes/china-clipper Here is the text: The China Clipper continued to fly the Pacific for the next eight years, until she was transferred to Florida in June, 1943 to begin service on the less glamorous route between Miami and Leopoldville in the Belgian Congo. On the evening of January 8, 1945, the China Clipper stuck an object in the water and sank at Port of Spain in Trinidad; the crash killed 14 of the 18 passengers,… Read more »

Are there any of these B314’s in exsistence ?

Is there any chance to find some films or video on Boeing Clippers and other flying Boats???

Can you tellme more about this find and recovery?

I was a navigator in VR-2, us navy, flying out of alameda throughout the Pacific, 1943-1945 Had my own short snorter. We used to get the passengers to sign and give us 1$. Lost my short snorter some where along the way

Some of the Boeing pilots must have flown the Sikorsky S-42 also. I wonder how they compared…………

I was lucky enough to see the Saro Princess flying at Farnborough – a majestic, beautiful aircraft with also, purring engines to compliment the vision of it. Wonderful. How exciting, those Farnborough meetings of the 1950’s were. If only we could say the same for successive governments that cancelled so many good designs which enabled the USA take a commanding lead in World aviation.

I have since found out the clipper that went down off the coast of Trinidad was on January 8, 1945. Anyone knowing anything about this crash, please contact me at crooksyd@rogers.com.

Thank you!

I heard tonight that my father saved people from drowning when a PanAm “sea plane” went down just off the coast of Trinidad in the West Indies. I believe it was either in 1939 or 1940 – he was told not to give any interviews but he was the “one” that disobeyed higher orders when he told the Americans that the plane had “downed” just behind an island off the main land. They did not believe him so he pushed his “boss” off a boat & took that boat to where the plane had crashed & saved some people. My… Read more »

TheYankee Clipper cutaway model was indeed a central feature in the Pan Am bldg at the 1939 NY Worlds Fair. The model was about 5 feet in length with full detail of its various compartments. My cousin, Joseph Battaglia, made the model under contract to Pan Am to be completed in time for the Fair opening. I was twelve at the time,but as i recall, the inauguaral flight from Ny to Lisbon was to coincide with that event. I was privileged to watch stages of its construction and always admired his handiwork. It would please me no end if I… Read more »

Hello, My grandfather Harry Seidel died on that flight. I have no additional passenger information other than some newspaper clippings about the crash from his hometown newspaper in MA.

Regards, Allan Seidel

I just noticed your posting and wondered if those logbooks might include any entries
for Capt. John T. Rogerson — this was my great uncle, and he flew for Pan Am out of Miami
from 1929 to 1956. Please reply to rogerson@buffalo.edu — thanks!